Automatic lighter



Dec. 11, 1934. H. A. MANTZ AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Filed May 17, 1934 thelike, for

, importance, and distinctly serious Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 1,983,863 AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Harold A. Mantz,

Milwaukee Gas S Milwaukee, Wla, assignor to pecialty Company, Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 17, 1934, Serial No.726,078 12 Claims. (011158-) lighters employed gas ranges, gas burners,hot

thereof, and

The present invention, ment, provides a constantly in connectionigniting the main for assuring reignition of the main with domesticwater heaters and burner or burners extinguished.

which is capable of igniting gas'conducted to it through tube meansleading burners, and which back through the tube means er or burnerswhich In the recent development from the various ignited gas is thenflashed to ignite the burnmay be opened.

of gas ranges and the like, clock or automatic control of the burners,to turn them off or on, has been found desirable in a number ofinstances.

If the pilot flame fails to ignite a burner when it is turned onmanually, some slight inconvenience results,

but no serious difficulties arise. However, with the automaticallycontrolled failure of a pilot flame beco type of device, the

mes of the utmost danger may result from such failure, even though theappliance is equipped vents the gas being is extinguished.

with a safety device that preturned on if the pilot flame Failures ofpilot flames have been found to be due largely to deposits of gum-likematerial on the needle or metering valves. this phenomena,

it has been Upon study of found that this gum-like material floats alongin the gas in minute particles, and passes and meters and is consumedpoint where vapor-phase gums, so-called tion of :which they are aproduct takes through the mains in the flame at the the gas is burned.However, these because the reacplace within the gas itself, and notnecessarily at the point of manufacture, are not as the quality of thegas is distinctly objectionable of gas flow through metering harmful asfar concerned, but are because of the stoppage valves, thermoand otherplaces is restricted, principally ovision of a novel construction, asdisclosed results in entire elimof these gum-like marestricted valvedpassageway leadng to a pilot tip or the like.

Thus, in the present invention, I have provided a porous gas to leaktherethrough ab ceramic pilot tip .whch allows out the nt e exentirelysurrounds the posed surface of the tip, whereby the pilot flame tip andraises the temperature of the tip and its associated support to a pointsubstantially above the vaporizing temperature of the gum particleswhich are in suspension in the gas stream, consequently preventingdeposition of such materials in the restricted valved passageways.

Another object attained by the present invention is the maintenance of ahighly eflicient and stable pilot flame which, due to the fact that itcompletely surrounds the pilot tip, is not liable to be extinguished byair drafts, gusts of wind or the like, since, although the flame may beextinguished on the windward side of the tip, it tenaciously maintainsitself on the leeward side thereof, and is therefore not readilyextinguished.

In conjunction with this latter feature, and because of the stability ofthe pilot flame due to this particular tip construction, it is possibleto so ventilate the hood surrounding the pilot tip as to allow all theproducts of combustion to escape readily from the hood, resulting in aminimum production of carbon monoxide and a more positive operation ofthe lighter under adverse conditions.

'Other objects and advantages of the present invention, such as itssimplicity of design and construction, will more readily appear from thefollowing detailed description which, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, will disclose to those skilled in the art theparticular construction and operation of a preferred form of the presentinvention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pilot lighterconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a planview of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of a modified form of pilot tip;and

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view of a modified pilot lighterconstruction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, in

Figure 1 I have indicated a main burner 5, such passageway 9communicating therewith. The tip 7 may be threaded or otherwise securedin the burner 5.-

Supported upon the burner 5 and maintained in position by the tip member7 is a lighter tube 10 which has the extending portion thereof,indicated atill, secured beneath the tip 7, and which is provided with acut-away portion 12, adapted to provide for projection of a lightingflame from the tube 10 across the ports 6.

The tube 10, at its opposite end, is telescopically engaged by a secondtube member 13, which extends axially thereof into a. centrally locatedhood 14, in the present embodiment, in which the lighter structure shownis applied to a domestic gas range having afiplurality of burners 5.,The tube or conduit 13 enters through a suitable opening in the'hood 14,its inner end being crimped, as shown at 15, for the purpose ofnon-rotatively securing it within the hood. The hood is composed of asubstantially hemispherical portion 14 and a lower cupshaped portion 16,the two portions having cooperating cut-away openings for receiving theends of the tubes 13. The inner ends of the tubes 13 extend into andadjacent a pilot flame indicated at 17.

The pilot hood, comprising the members 14 and 16, which have telescopingengagement, is provided with a plurality of inlet openings located inthe base thereof, and with a centrally located flue opening or outlet20. The lower portion 16 of the hood is'supp'orted upon a pilot tipsupport 22, and is maintained thereon by means of a supporting nut 23threaded over the lower extending portion 24 of the support 22.

The upper end of the support 22 is provided with an opening 25, and thedefining cylindrical wall of this opening is cut away, as shown at 26,to form an annular groove therein. Disposed within the recess 25 is aporous ceramic pilot tip 27 which is substantially cup-shaped in form,and which has its open end disposed within the recess 25. Suitablecementiticus material may be provided in the annular groove 26 forsecuring the pilot "tip 27 within the recess 25, and the lower end of.the recess is counterbored, as shown at 28, to provide a valvedpassageway leading into the valve chamber 29 formed within the support22.

The support 22 is provided with a laterally extending threaded borereceiving the lighter tube 30 in threaded engagement therewith, the tube30 being threaded into a suitable coupling member 31 extending into theinterior of a gas manifold 32. The tube 30 thus provides a rigid supportfor the pilot tip support 22 and there-- fore also supports the hood 14and the inner adjacent ends of the lighter tubes 13.

Threaded centrally into the pilot tip support 22, and extending upwardlyfrom the lower end thereof, is a metering valve member 33 having theconically formed valve portion 34 cooperating with the restriction orvalve seat 28 for metering the flow of fuel through the tube 30 into theporous tip 27. The metering valve 33 is provided with a knurled outerend indicated at 35, providing for manual adjustment of the same, andsuitable packing 36 is disposed within a recess at the lower end of thepilot tip support 22 and is maintained in position by means of a springmember 37 biased between a suitable washer 38 bearing against thepacking 36 and the upper surface of the knurled head of the meteringvalve 33. The metering valve is rotatable to secure any desired flow offuel from the lighter tube 30 into the interior of the pilot tip 27. 7,

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, substantially the same construction isshown, except that in this embodiment the pilot tip support 22 isprovided at'its upper end portion with a cap member or bushing 40threaded over an extending portion 41 of the pilot tip support 22'. Thebushing 40 is provided with a radially inwardly extending flangedportion 42 defining an opening cooperating with the valve openingcontrolled by the metering valve 33, and is also provided with anannular groove 43 corresponding to the groove 26 of the embodiment shownin Figures 1 and 2 for providing means for cementing the pilot tip 27 inposition. 'However, in this modification the pilot tip and cap member 40are removable 7 from the pilot tip support for inspection, re-jplacement, or repair. The operation, however, is identical, and it isbelieved that a description of the operation in the embodiment shown inFigure 1 will suflice for the purposes of the present disclosure. e

In Figure 1, the gas from the manifold 32, carrying the suspendedvapor-phase gums therein, passes through the lighter tube 30 and intothe valve passageway or chamber 29. From the chamber 29 the gas flowsthrough the restricted passageway 28, controlled by the valve portion 34of metering valve 33, and into the interior of the porous tip 27.

Due to the porosity of this tip, the gas then filters through the porouswall thereof and burns in a flame completely surrounding the tip 27,thereby raising the temperature of the tip to a relatively high degree.The heat generated by the flame which completely surrounds the pilot tip27,. is transmitted to the pilot tip support 22, since this material isformed of bronze or the like, and is readily conductive of heat, and thetip support 22 is therefore heated to relatively the same temperatureabout a zone adjacent the tip 27. This temperature, I have found, issubstantially above the vaporizing temperature of the gum materialssuspended in the gas, and therefore vaporizes any of such materials asthey pass into the valve chamber 29. This effectively prevents cloggingor stopping of the gas flow through the metered passageway 28, andthereby provides a positive and reliable pilot flame tip.

When the gas supply to the burner 5 is opened, gas from the manifold 32is admitted to the interior of the burner 5, and a portion thereofpasses through the passageways 8 and 9 of the tip 7 into the tube 10,and, due to the pressure thereof, is forced through the tube 10 and tube13 into proximity to the pilot flame 17. This gas is ignited by thepilot flame 17, and is then flashed back through the tubes 13 and. 10over the burner ports 6, igniting the same and thereby providing forignition of the burner. thermore, upon accidental extinguishment of theburner flame, gas issuing from the tip 7 will again serve to reignitethe burner in the manner just described.

Due to the fact that the tip 27 is porous, any draft or sudden gust ofair which would tend to extinguish the flame at one side of the tip willnot extinguish the entire pilot flame, since it will tenaciouslymaintain itself burning upon the leeward side of the tip, due to thefact that the ceramic material is substantiallyuniformly porous, andconsequently a relatively stable and reliable pilot flame is maintainedat all times.

Fur- I Also, due to the fact that the pilot flame 1'7 cannot be readilyextinguished by gusts of wind or the like, it is possible to providerelatively large openings 19 and 20 to provide for rapid circulation ofair the members 14 and 16, and consequently the hood is ventilated tosuch a degree as to allow all products of combustion to escape quicklytherefrom, resulting in a minimum-production of carbon monoxide withinthe hood. This is of distinct advantage and provides a more positiveoperation of the lighter under adverse conditions, due to the fact thata uniform, wellburning pilot flame is provided at all times.

It is therefore apparent that I have provided an efiective means forpreventing deposition of these gum-like materials in a restricted gaspassageway, and further, at the same time, have produced a moreefficient and stable pilot lighter than heretofore possible, due to theprovision of a porous ceramic tip which is capable of bein heated to arelatively high temperature by the pilot flame produced by the gasfiltering therethrough, and which is capable of transmitting this heatto the metallic material surrounding the restricted valved passageway.Also, the present type of pilot lighter is not subjected toextinguishment by sudden drafts of air or the like.

I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details of constructionwhich I have shown in the application of the present invention to apilot tip, but only as defined by the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In combination a pilot tip formed of highly porous refractorymaterial presenting innumerable relatively fine pores therethrough andan inlet for supplying to said tip gas in quantity 'only suflicient tomaintain a relatively restricted constantly burning pilot flameexternally of the tip.

2. In combination, a pilot tip formed of highly porous refractorymaterial presenting innumerable relatively fine pores therethrough, asupport for said tip, said support having a re- .stricted passageway forsupplying to said tip gas in quantity only sufficient to maintain arelatively restricted constantly burning pilot flame externally of thetip.

3. In combination a pilot tip formed of highly porous refractorymaterial presenting innumerable relatively fine pores therethrough, aninlet for supplying to said tip gas in quantity only sufiicient tomaintain a relatively restricted constantly burning pilot flameexternally of the tip, and means disposed in relatively close proximityto the tip for adjusting the flow of gas to said tip. I

4. In combination, an inverted cup-shaped pilot tip formed of highlyporous refractory material presenting innumerable relatively fine porestherethrough, a support for said tip, said support having a restrictedpassageway for supplying to said tip gas in quantity only suflicient tomaintain a relatively restricted constantly burning pilot flameexternally of'the tip, said passageway being coaxial with the tip andopening upwardly directly into the tip, and a metering valve disposedbeneath said passageway and cooperable therewith, said valve having anupwardly directed tapered end coaxial with said passageway.

5. In combination, a pilot device comprising through the hood formed by'pended vapor-phase gum a tip part having innumerable relatively finepores for producing with a relatively restricted supply of gas aconstant externalp'ilot flame supplied with gas over substantially theentire surface of said tip part whereby to raise with the restrictedpilot supply of gas the temperature of the tip part above the vaporizingtemperature of the gum particles in the gas and to maintain the flameagainst being extinguished by gusts of air.

6. In combination, a pilot device comprising a tip part havinginnumerable relatively fine pores therethrough, and a support for saidtip part, said support having a restricted passageway for supplying tosaid tip tity only sufficient to maintain a relatively restrictedconstantly burning pilot flame externally of the tip part.

7. In combination, a pilot device comprising a tip part havinginnumerable relatively flne pores therethrough, a support for said tippart,

part gas in quail-- said support having a restricted passageway,

for supplying to said tip part gas in quantity only constantly burningpilot flame externally of the tip part, and valve means disposedadjacent the tip support for adjusting the flow of gas to said tip.

8. In a domestic gas range, the combination with a burner of a structureproviding a pilot flame for igniting said burner, said structurecomprising a pilot tip formed of highly porous refractory materialpresenting innumerable relatively fine pores therethrough, an inlet forsupplying to said tip gas in quantity only sumcient to maintain arelatively restricted constantly burning pilot flame externally of thetip, and means adapted for supplying to said tip gas free of air andhaving suspended vapor-phase gum residues therein.

9. In combination, a pilot tip support having a recess in its upper end,a pilot tip cemented in said recess, said tip being formed of highlyporous refractory material presenting innumerable relatively fine porestherethrough, said support having a restricted passageway for supplyingto said tip gas in quantity only sufllcient to maintain a relativelyrestricted constantly burning pilot flame externally of the tip, and atube connected with said tip support and adapted for supplying a gaseousfuel having susresidues therein.

10. In combination, a pilot device comprising a tip part havinginnumerable relatively flne pores for producing, with a relativelyrestricted supply of gas, an external pilot flame supplied with gas oversubstantially the entire surface of said tip part, and means forsupplying to said tip part gas in quantity only sufiicient to maintain arelatively restricted pilot flame at the tip part. 1

11. In combination, gas supply means and a pilot lighter tip havinginnumerable relatively fine pores for producing with a relativelyrestricted amount of gas an external pilot flame supplied with gas oversubstantially the entire pilot flame surface of the tip, said tip havingrestricted communication with said gas supply means whereby the amountof gas issuing from said innumerable relatively fine pores is onlysuflicient to maintain a relatively restricted pilot flame at the tip.

12. In combination, gas supply means, a pilot lighter tip havinginnumerable relatively fine 4 1,983,863 pores for producing with arelatively restricted amount of gas an external pilot flame suppliedcient to maintain a relatively restricted pilot with gas oversubstantially the entire pilot flamefiame at the tip, and means foradjusting the surface of the tip, said tip having restricted flow of gasto said tip. communication with said gas supply means whereby the amountof gas issuing from said innumerable relatively fine pores is onlysufll- HAROLD A. MANTIZ.

